Weekly Roundup for Jan 10-16: One month in, concern mounts over failing offensive against LRA rebels
Almost exactly one month after the
launch of a military offensive targeting the LRA in eastern DR Congo,
the situation is rapidly deteriorating, with massive civilian casualties and a dire humanitarian situation unfolding throughout the region. What we're now seeing is the nightmare scenario. But in a joint statement we're releasing today
with our partners at the Enough Project, we argue that there is still
time for the international community to intervene and salvage this
opportunity to end the violence. With countless children yet again
caught in the crossfire of this war, and given the United States' role
in sparking this catastrophe, there is a serious imperative to act
quickly and responsibly.
The Good: The top US Senator for Africa expressed his deep concern about children caught in the crossfire of the current crisis in northeastern DR Congo.
The Bad: LRA attacks and abductions continued this week, spreading out over a larger territory.
The Ugly: Ugandan troops spearheading the regional offensive continue to lack a clear plan to apprehend LRA leaders and end the violence.
Regional Security
The Good: The top US Senator for Africa expressed his deep concern about children caught in the crossfire of the current crisis in northeastern DR Congo.
The Bad: LRA attacks and abductions continued this week, spreading out over a larger territory.
The Ugly: Ugandan troops spearheading the regional offensive continue to lack a clear plan to apprehend LRA leaders and end the violence.
Regional Security
- LRA rebels, split between numerous groups, continued to attack communities in the DR Congo. The latest reports estimate that the number of people killed by the rebels since Christmas may have reached as many as 1,000.
- The crisis is also become increasingly complex and convoluted. LRA rebels have reportedly masqueraded as Ugandan soldiers before attacking some villages, while Congolese civilian self-defense groups are taking up arms and have killed at least three rebels in recent weeks.
- One month into the joint regional offensive against the LRA, the Ugandan army still lacks a clear plan to apprehend top LRA leaders and end the immediate violence. Recent orders given for Ugandan troops to begin "search and destroy" missions against the LRA heightens concerns that women and abductees in the rebel ranks are being indiscriminately targeted by the operation.
- Troops from the Central African Republic began deploying to the border with the DR Congo to head off LRA rebels reportedly seeking safe haven in their territory.
- LRA spokes David Matsanga delivered a letter to UN envoy Joaquim Chissano reinforcing his call for a ceasefire between the LRA and regional military forces. It is unclear whether Matsanga has been in contact with Kony since the offensive began and whether the letter was delivered at the rebel commander's request.
Situation in Northern Uganda
- Oil was discovered in northern Uganda's Amuru district, where nine in ten people remain in displaced persons camps or transit sites. Proposals for large-scale investment projects in sugar production and oil exploitation have raised concerns that people will be prevented from returning to their homes and lands.
International Response
- US Senator Russ Feingold, chairman of the Senate subcommittee on Africa, released a statement critical of the ongoing military offensive and condemning the consequent LRA reprisal attacks. The statement called for future efforts to disarm the LRA to have "the highest possible chance of success and pose minimal risks to innocent civilians."
- The US ambassador to Uganda said that the failure of the offensive so far to capture LRA leaders was "disappointing," and also criticized the Ugandan government's arrest of two reporters who wrote articles critical of its execution of the operations.
- The European Union released a statement welcoming the regional offensive against the LRA, while urging military forces to pay special attention to humanitarian consequences of the operation.